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A Downing Street spokesperson said: “We have been working on the situation in Sharm el Sheikh throughout the day and there was a cross-Whitehall meeting of senior officials late this afternoon to review our response.

“Our utmost priority is to make sure we have all the right measures in place to ensure that British citizens can return safely to the UK.”

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The Airbus A321 crashed shortly after taking off from Sharm el-Sheikh

A Monarch spokesman said the airline is "hoping" to run the flights from tomorrow, but the plan had not been 100 per cent confirmed.

The UK grounded all flights to and from Egypt's Sinai Peninsula on Wednesday after saying there was a "significant possibility" a Russian airliner that crashed on Saturday - killing 224 people - was downed by a bomb.

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Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said it was a "significant possibility" a bomb was planted onboard

The restrictions on incoming flights were lifted after David Cameron held talks with Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi and following on from a cross-Whitehall meeting.

Speaking earlier today, a Downing Street spokesperson said: “We have been working throughout the day with the airlines and the Egyptian authorities to get return flights from Sharm to the UK back up and running as soon as possible.

"We are making good progress.

"Our utmost priority is to make sure that we have all the right measures in place to ensure British citizens can return safely to the UK.”

Earliier today stranded holidaymakers in Sharm el-Sheikh clashed with hotel staff as tensions rise over delayed flights - with many reacting angrily to being charged more money for their extended stay.

Emma Smyth, who is staying about 12 miles from the airport, said frustrations were starting boil over.

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David Cameron and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in London

She said: "Because English people are frustrated and upset, they are taking it out on the staff here, which is not fair.

"One English family, who are obviously upset and concerned, have asked the hotel if they can stay on. The hotel have set a charge and the tourists can not understand why they are being charged."

Mrs Smyth, 41, added: "They said they should be allowed to stay, and with that, one man grabbed one of the managers - they ripped his shirt, ripped his name-badge off and everything."

Paul Modley, who has travelled to Sharm el-Sheikh seven times in the last nine years, said: "We understand why the Government have done it, but I am really worried for the Egyptian people because - particularly in the Red Sea resorts - they are so dependent on tourism."

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Mr Modley, 49, from Ealing, west London, said: "People need to take the Government's advice around travel.

"But I would hate to think that we wouldn't be able to come back to Sharm because of local issues with terrorist cells."

Prime Minister Mr Cameron said it was "more likely than not" that a bomb brought down the Metrojet carrying Russian tourists - a claim that Russian and Egyptian officials have dismissed as premature speculation.

He also chaired a COBRA meeting where he discussed with senior ministers the timeframe on getting them home.

Russian airliner bombed over Egypt

Tue, November 17, 2015

Russian airliner flight 9268 crashed en route from Sharm el-Sheikh to St. Petersburg on 31st October 2015, killing all 224 people on board the vast majority of them Russian tourists.

The bomb that was used to blow up the Russian Airliner bound for St. Petersburg, Russia, that crashed in Hassana, north Sinai, Egypt, killing all 224 people on board

Mr Cameron's spokeswoman said the Government had been "working round the clock" with Egypt and airlines on what security measures should be put in place at Sharm el-Sheikh's airport to get flights back up and running.

Downing Street also played down reports of an RAF operation to evacuate UK tourists from the region, with ministers currently focussed on discussions with airlines.

The spokeswoman said "upwards" of 16 flights bringing Britons back home had been scheduled to leave Sharm el-Sheikh today, with each carrying 200 passengers each.

Asked whether those people remaining in the area were at risk of a terror attack, Mr Cameron's spokeswoman "encouraged" people to look at long-standing Foreign Office travel advice that has said there is a 'high threat, of terrorism in the country but describes enhanced security measures around the Sharm el-Sheikh region.

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Map of flight paths leaving Britain with risks of attack from the ground

We've got to take action now. 3,500 British tourists are due to go out to Sharm today.

Philip Hammond

Britain grounded all passenger aircraft flying out of Sharm el-Sheikh after it became clearer Islamic State terrorists probably brought down the plane with a catastrophic explosion which left 244 dead.

It is expected it will take up to 10 days to bring home all of the British tourists stranded in the Red Sea resort.

British Government officials have raised fears over lax airport security amid evidence suggesting ISIS terrorists were responsible for planting a bomb onboard the Russian Metrojet plane.

Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said British officials and security equipment will be sent to Sharm to screen all passengers and their luggage.

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David Cameron at a news conference with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi

Speaking this morning, Mr Hammond said: "ISIL has claimed responsibility for bringing down the Russian aircraft and they did that straight after the crash.

"We looked at the whole information picture, including the plane and concluded there is a significant possibility… a significant possibility there was am explosive device onboard."

He said the Government made the decision to halt all flights to and from Sharm el-Sheikh airport to Britain after receiving "sensitive intelligence".

Mr Hammond added: "We've got to take action now. 3,500 British tourists are due to go out to Sharm today. We've to make a decision and err on the side of caution when there's a British threat."

Mr Cameron said he had "huge sympathy" for holidaymakers whose breaks had been disrupted and that he hoped their return could begin "as soon as possible".

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Mourners gather in St Petersburg, Russia, after the disaster

He said: "There is a relatively simple and straightforward set of things that need to happen at Sharm el-Sheikh airport to give us greater certainty of safety at that airport and then the aeroplanes can load up those passengers and bring them home."

An Egyptian alliliate of ISIS has twice claimed responsibility for bringing down the plane, which crashed in Sinai at the weekend.

The latest claim came yesterday on Twitter when an Arabic speaker declared: "We say to the deniers and the doubters: Die from your frustration. We, with God's grace, are the ones who brought it down, and we are not obliged to disclose the mechanism of its demise."

The fight against ISIS

The battle against ISIS militants (also abbreviated as Daesh, ISIL, IS and Islamic State) continues in the Middle East.

Following the visit, the Foreign Secretary suggested tour operators may start flying some passengers out tomorrow under "emergency measures".

He added passenger flights to the region may not resume until Christmas.

He said: "That could take days, it could take weeks ... it depends on the experts.

"But in terms of the short term emergency measures the airline industry is indicating that they expect by tomorrow to be in a position to start bringing people out with those measures in place."

Both Ireland and the Netherlands followed the UK's lead on suspending flights and Mr Hammond predicted others will also take the same step.

Egypt has hit back at Britain's stance with its foreign minister calling it a "premature and unwarranted" step that would smash its tourist industry.

Egyptian president Abdel Fatah al-Sisi - who is in the UK for a scheduled visit and will hold talks with David Cameron later - had not been notified in advance.

Russia cautioned against speculation about the cause of the Airbus crash as the country continued running flights into Sharm.

President Vladimir Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Moscow "cannot rule out a single theory".

A senior member of the Russian parliament also suggested the decision to stop flights was motivated by British opposition to Moscow's military action in the Middle East.

The RIA Novosti news agency reported Konstantin Kosachev as saying: "There is geopolitical opposition to the actions of Russia in Syria."

A host of travel operators have grounded flights to Sharm el-Sheikh.

EasyJet, Thomson Airways, Thomas Cook and British Airways are among the companies which have cancelled all flights to and from the Red Sea resort, several until next Thursday, following the Foreign Office's warning against "all but essential" travel.

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Up to 20,000 Britons are stranded at the resort and travel agent association Abta has advised passengers who were stranded or were booked to go in the next few days to contact their tour operator.

A spokesman for Abta said: "The FO has not raised the threat level in the resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The change in advice applies only to air travel to and from Sharm el-Sheikh.

"Abta estimates there are around 9,000 customers currently on holiday with its members in Sharm el-Sheikh, but there will also be a number of holidaymakers who have travelled independently."

A newlywed couple are among thousands of Britons facing an anxious wait to see if their trip to Sharm can go ahead.

Stephen and Maria Wilson, from Howden in East Yorkshire, are due to fly out for an 11-night honeymoon at the resort.

Mr Wilson, an arable farmer, said: "We only booked our honeymoon two weeks ago, and now we're waiting to see if we can go or not.

"We wanted to go somewhere hot, but didn't want to go long haul, so we went for Sharm el-Sheikh.

"We did our research and everybody said once you get out of Sharm airport, you're fine. It's a very safe area. It's bulletproof, everyone said.

"We have been listening to the radio and the television, waiting for information, but we are not sure what we can do."

Mr Wilson, 43, said he paid £1,600 for their sunshine break.

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Around 900,000 Britons visit Sharm el-Sheikh each year

EasyJet said it had cancelled its flights to and from the resort today and would keep future flights "under review, pending further advice from the Government".

It added: "Passengers booked to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in the next two weeks are able to request a refund, or change their flights to an alternative date or destination free of charge.

"We are doing all possible to keep all affected passengers informed and have provided hotel rooms for those delayed overnight this evening. We are working with the UK Government to work out the basis upon which easyJet can fly passengers in Sharm el-Sheikh back hom."

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The cause of the crash is still under investigation

Thomson Airways, along with First Choice, confirmed it has cancelled all outbound flights to Sharm el-Sheikh up to and including Thursday November 12.

A statement said: "All customers booked to travel to Sharm el-Sheikh in this period will be provided with a full refund. As a priority, we are contacting customers due to travel tomorrow and ask those travelling later in the week to please bear with us as we manage this evolving situation."

All customers on holiday in in the area who travelled on Thomson Airways on a flight-only basis are advised to immediately contact the 24-hour holiday line +44 33 33 365 147.

British Airways said flights to and from the resort would probably be delayed by 24 hours.

A spokesman said: "The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority. We would never operate a flight unless it was safe to do so."

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The horror crash killed all 224 people on board

Thomas Cook has also cancelled all flights until next Thursday. The company said it hoped to bring its 1,700 customers back to the UK "in due course" and those due to fly today would be allowed to stay in their accommodation for free.

Those due to fly in the next week would be allowed to cancel or re-book with a £25 discount, the firm said.

Monarch has grounded all flights today and said it was working with the FO to arrange to fly its customers back to the UK.

Those who were set to travel to the region today should not go to the airport and instead contact the firm's customer services on 0333 003 0700 or 0333 777 4744 for package holiday customers.